The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African
film industry
The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post ...
. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture. The award presentation is attended by numerous media representatives, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses and actors from all across the world. The AMA Awards is widely considered to be Africa's most important film event and the most prestigious film award in Africa.
History
The first Africa Movie Academy Awards was held in
Yenagoa
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area and capital city of Bayelsa State, southern Nigeria. It is located at the southern part of the country at coordinates .
The LGA has an area of 706 km² and a population of 352,285 at the 2006 census.
Th ...
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
on 30 May 2005. All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards which was moved to
Abuja
Abuja () is the capital and eighth most populous city of Nigeria. Situated at the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is a planned city built mainly in the 1980s based on a master plan by International Plann ...
, FCT for security reasons. In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at
Eko Hotels and Suites
Eko Hotels and Suites is a five-star conference centre hotel in Lagos. 09161518010
History
Established in 1977 as ''Èkó Holiday Inn'' and built on Victoria Island, it is the largest hotel in Nigeria. It was designed by architect Oluwole Olumu ...
Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, states, it is both the List of Nigerian states by population, most populous and List of Nigerian state ...
. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to
Yenagoa
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area and capital city of Bayelsa State, southern Nigeria. It is located at the southern part of the country at coordinates .
The LGA has an area of 706 km² and a population of 352,285 at the 2006 census.
Th ...
, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.
Categories
Current categories
As of 2017, the Africa Movie Academy Awards have 28 merit categories. They include:
*
Best Short Film
Best or The Best may refer to:
People
* Best (surname), people with the surname Best
* Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer
Companies and organizations
* Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain
* Best Lock Corporation, ...
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best or The Best may refer to:
People
* Best (surname), people with the surname Best
* Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer
Companies and organizations
* Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain
* Best Lock Corporatio ...
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Best Actor in a Supporting Role may refer to:
* AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
* BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
* Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male
* Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a S ...
Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.
Special categories
* Lifetime Achievement Awards (2005-2007; 2013–present)
* Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
* Special Jury Award (2012–present)
* Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
* Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)
John Akomfrah
John Akomfrah (born 4 May 1957) is a British artist, writer, film director, screenwriter, theorist and curator of Ghanaian descent, whose "commitment to a radicalism both of politics and of cinematic form finds expression in all his films".
A ...
*
Steve Ayorinde Steve Oluseyi Ayorinde (born 1970) is the immediate past Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State in Nigeria. Before that, he was the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, sworn in by His Excellency the Governor of ...
2005–2015
*
Keith Shiri
Oluwa Keith Shiri is a Zimbabwean film curator, who has been based in based in Beirut, Lebanon, and in London, UK. He has been an advisor to several film festivals, including London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Berlin International Film Fe ...
*
June Givanni
June Givanni is a Guyanese-born London-based film curator. She has specialized in African-related movies since 1985, and has worked internationally as a film and television programme consultant and writer.
*
Hyginus Ekwuazi Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi was a former Acting Head of the Department of Theatre Arts in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was also Director General of the Nigerian Film Corporation.
Ekwuazi currently acts as a jury in sev ...
*
Shaibu Husseini
Shaibu Husseini (born 4 December 1970 ) is a Nigerian journalist, performing artist, Cultural administrator, PR and Media Expert and film curator. He holds a Doctorate degree in Mass Communication of the University of Lagos and was educated at the ...
*
Ayoku Babu Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is a non-profit corporation in Los Angeles, California, that states its goal is to promote "cultural understanding among peoples of African descent" through exhibiting art and film. It hosts a film festival and an a ...
Dorothee Wenner
Dorothee Wenner is a German film curator and journalist. She has served as curator at the Berlin International Film Festival since 1990. She is also a founding jury member of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
References
External links
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...
Filippe Savadogo
Filippe Savadogo is a Burkinabe film critic and politician. Between 2007 and 2011, he was the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Communication for Burkina Faso. He has also served as ambassador of his country to many European countries including Fran ...
2014–present
*
Amaka Igwe
Amaka Igwe (2 January 1963 – 28 April 2014) was a Nigerian filmmaker and broadcasting executive. Igwe was the owner oTop Radio90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. She was recognized as one of the second-generation filmmakers who helped begin ...
2005
Awards statistics
The statistics below are valid as of the 13th edition (2017).
Most nominations
By a film
10 and up
By a director
Twice and more:
By an actress
Twice and more:
By an actor
Twice and more:
Most wins
By a film
Five times and more:
By country
The "Best Film" category has been won by a Nigerian film for a record six times.
By an actress
By an actor
Other notable records
* Egyptian actor Farouk Al-Fichawi was the first non-Nigerian actor to win an award. He did so for his role in ''Seventh Heaven.''
* Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah was the first non-Nigerian actress to win an award.